YORK REGIONAL POLICE REMINDS DRIVERS TO STAY SAFE DURING OPERATION WINTER BLITZ

York Regional Police is reminding all motorists to adjust their driving habits during winter weather and that officers will be monitoring the roads during Operation Winter Blitz.

Officers are looking for violations like Careless Driving (which can include driving too fast for weather conditions or driver inattentiveness), Speeding, Unsafe Lane Changes, Following Too Closely and Improper Passing. Motorists who do not adjust their driving for winter conditions will be stopped and ticketed.

Between midnight on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 and 9 a.m. on Wednesday, December 17, 2008, York Regional Police responded to 17 collisions. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, however many of these collisions could have been avoided if drivers had adjusted their driving habits to the weather.

The leading causes of collisions on snow-covered roads include:

Driving too fast for the conditions - a driver travelling at 40 kilometres per hour on dry roads will need about 20 metres to stop. On a snow-covered road, that distance increases to 42 metres. As speed increases, so does stopping distance.

Following too closely - collision-avoidance manoeuvres are less effective on snow-covered roads than on dry roads. Leaving more space between you and the vehicle in front provides more time and distance if you have to take important evasive action.

Improper tires - many collisions where a driver loses control are the result of worn tires. Worn tires can cause a vehicle to quickly and unexpectedly rotate into a sideways slide, exposing the occupants to a dangerous side-impact collision. Winter tires are the best choice for maximum control and traction.

Obstructed view - not only is it important to clear all your windows of ice and snow before heading out, but it is equally important to be aware of other things that may obstruct your view. Heavy snowfalls result in high snow banks which can easily obstruct a driver’s view. Use caution when exiting driveways or when approaching intersections. Snow banks can easily hide a small car or pedestrian.

Road conditions can change quickly and unexpectedly. Speeding severely compromises road safety, particularly at this time of year. Allow yourself plenty of time to get to your destination and drive in accordance of the road conditions.

For more information please contact Sergeant Edmond Villamere of the Traffic Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7703. Questions are always welcome by emailing traffic@yrp.ca